Essay Prompts

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blueplate99

USNA 21
Joined
Jan 6, 2015
Messages
88
The essay prompts are pretty straightforward, especially the second one (What are the most important qualities in becoming a successful USMA cadet and a successful Army officer?). It doesn't provide much room to create a good essay from it, rather just a list or brief paragraph. The wording of the prompt is what I think is making it difficult for me, I'm not sure if admissions is expecting just a list (because that would answer the question) or if they are looking for a more thought-out essay. If anyone has any insight or experience that would be really helpful. Thanks!
 
Last year the same question was an essay with a reasonable word limit. Are you sure you are reading everything correctly?
 
blueplate99 said:
The essay prompts are pretty straightforward, especially the second one (What are the most important qualities in becoming a successful USMA cadet and a successful Army officer?). It doesn't provide much room to create a good essay from it, rather just a list or brief paragraph. The wording of the prompt is what I think is making it difficult for me, I'm not sure if admissions is expecting just a list (because that would answer the question) or if they are looking for a more thought-out essay. If anyone has any insight or experience that would be really helpful. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Clearly you read things carefully and literally.
Q: What are qualities? A: List of qualities.
That is certainly a clean and lineal way to approach it.

Walk it back one more step. In most dictionaries, the definition of "essay" is "a short piece of writing on one subject, usually presenting the author's own views."

Since everyone reading this could answer the question with a list of "most important qualities," they would likely differ in some ways or perhaps relative importance. Therein lies your "why" of choosing those qualities; that is the meat of your essay. Your ability to deliver an opinion concisely and clearly is also on display.

Now, I cannot see if your screen actually uses the word "essay." If it does, that's the overriding directive. If it doesn't, put yourself in the minds of Admissions staff reading these, thousands of them. What reply gives the best insight into you as a candidate?
 
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